Andy and Linda Bullen fell in love with Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood the first time they visited, but it was when they returned for a house tour that they decided to become part of the Pullman themselves.
They now live in a house in the 600 block of East 111th Street, built in 1881 as an executive home for upper-level Pullman Palace Car Co. management. It’s not far from similarly historic cottages and flats for workers’ families and rooming houses for single men employed at the sprawling railcar facility. George Pullman, who founded the company, hired architect Solon S. Beman and landscape architect Nathan F. Barrett to design the town and factory complex.
Now, years after being smitten by the neighborhood during a Historic Pullman House Tour, they’re putting their Pullman home on display for others as part of this year’s 51st annual tour. The tour is Oct. 12-13 and includes six homes, including the Bullen’s, as well as historic buildings. Information is at www.pullmanhousetour.com/.
Among the earlier owners of the Bullen home were William Reese Harris, assistant auditor of the Pullman company, and his wife, Florence, as well as town manager Arthur Monroe Parent. The Bullens bought a smaller home on St. Lawrence Avenue after first touring the neighborhood in 1998 but three years later opted for this larger house, which they said was “even more original.”
“We were entranced by the architecture of the homes and the palpable sense of community evident during the house tour,” said Andrew Bullen, a former librarian with the Illinois State Library, who focused on digital humanities and state archives. “I was attracted to how important historically this house was both to Chicago and the nation as a whole.”
The three-story plus basement Queen Anne style home has a staircase that runs through the center with rooms on each side and original floors, woodwork, fireplace and ceiling medallions. The dining room still has its original built-in China cabinet, fireplace and faux finishing of woodwork. On the third floor is a ballroom which the Bullens restored with a cork/concrete composite floor, as well as a 2800 piece-stained glass laylight. They use it for yoga (with three stuffed animal-goats looking on) and entertaining.
“There’s so much history here,” said Bullen, adding he learned to plaster to fix up the home and his wife painted and stenciled the walls.
Linda Bullen, a former historic preservation curator at the Pullman State Historic Site, who spends hours creating fabric and other art at home, has an eye for architectural beauty. They have a grown son who works for the CTA and daughter who is an air traffic controller in Los Angeles.
“I’ve been a big fan of Victorian architecture my whole life and English designers from that period,” Linda Bullen said. “This house fit into all the things I loved about the Victorian era and gave me a lot of wall space.
“We surround ourselves with things we love that have meaning for us.”
The couple found out about their home from their current neighbor.
“It’s a neighborhood unlike any other neighborhood I’ve ever been in,” said Andrew Bullen. “It’s like being in an English village — the closeness of the neighbors.”
The annual Historic Pullman House Tour is hosted by the Pullman Civic Organization and Historic Pullman Foundation, with proceeds going to the FCO’s Façade Reimbursement Program and foundation.
“Every house does tell a story,” said Cindy McMahon, tour co-chair since 1987 and a lifelong resident. “I think what makes Pullman unique and attractive to buyers is the sense of community, affordability of housing and historical significance.”
McMahon, who has lived in her home with husband Tom for 35 years and has a son and daughter, said she appreciates the “stateliness” of their home, along with its historic characteristics, 11-foot ceilings, cherry wood railings and woodwork.
She said dozens of residents have bought homes in Pullman as a result of the house tours. While the original organizers probably thought it was a good way to “share their historical and civic pride,” she said, “they didn’t know it would become an economic engine.”
Ann Alspaugh, who toured the area with her husband in 2009 before buying their home on Forrestville Avenue, was drawn to the area as an architect. They’ve done some renovations over the years but knew the home had been well cared for by a former owner who was a carpenter.
“I’ve always wanted to live in an architecturally significant place,” Alspaugh said. “The visual charm and Pullman’s architecture was just fantastic. The other aspect was the community. Everyone was just so welcoming and friendly.”
Carol and Larry Lagadinos, who moved to Pullman in 2014, were attracted to the neighborhood’s close-knit vibe.
“We just felt very drawn to the neighborhood,” said Lagadinos, adding she recently had her hair done at home by a hairdresser who also lives in the neighborhood.
There was also the history.
“You’re part of that when you live here,” she said, adding her daughter bought a home across the street and loves it.
For the Bullens, even though they’d been on tours before, they were a bit wary of showing off their home for the first time for this year’s tour. But they wanted to share what the stunning architecture and neighborhood offers.
“This is very much us, so it’s a little intimidating having people inside your brain,” said Andrew Bullen. “We love this house.”
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
